Conveyer for vegetable and fruit fumigating devices



July 2, 1935. E owN 2,006,343

CONVEYER FOR VEGETABLE AND FRUIT FUMIGATING DEVICES Filed Sept. 23, 1931 0a IN VENT OR I -A/ewman ZBmwz:

"I; BY

ATTORNEY may be subjected to the action of sulphur diox- Patented July 2, 1935 :;.i:;;. 2

UNITED Grommesch, widow y 11' Application September 23,1931, swam. 564,699:. (or. 198-152) 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a vegetable and fruit fumigating device. More particularly, my invention relates to a device whereby vegetables and fruits, from which the skin has been removed,

ide or preferably the fumes of burning sulphur. Particularly is my device adapted as a means of carrying out the process of treating potatoes as set forth in a co-pending application of Charles D. Draper, having Serial No. 562,606.

For purposes of definiteness of illustration and clearness of description, I will describe my invention as particularly applied to Irish potatoes (Solcmum 'tuberosum), but it will be understood that said invention is not limited to said vegetable, but is also applicable to other vegetables and fruits and the words Irish potatoes are used hereinafter with such meaning.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawing, the same being a preferred exemplary form of embodiment of my invention throughout which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure l is a view in vertical section of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a view in perspective of the device embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the buckets forming a part of my invention.

A casing II is substantially gas and air tight, and is provided with a curved portion I2 positioned at one side, having an article receiving hole I3 in the base of said portion. A cylindrical timing-feeding drum, indicated generally by I4, is concentrically disposed with respect to said curved portion. Pockets I6 are provided in the drum I4. The outer periphery of thedrum I4 is in close proximity to the curved portion I2, so that a substantial gas sealbetween walls I5 of drum I4 and curved portion I2 is afforded.

Feeding mechanism I'I delivering a supply of skinned potatoes, is provided adjacent a trough I8 entering hole I9. Hole I9, which acts as the intake of my device, is positioned with respect to hole I3 so that a suflicient space of the curved portion I2 exists between hole I3 and hole l9 to permit the walls I5 to consecutively seal passage of gas therebetween as drum I4 rotates.

A plurality of bucket members 20 mounted on continuous conveyer belt 2| pass below receiving hole I3. Said bucketmember 26 is preferably made of wood or other'material which resists corrosion of the gases used. The sides of said .sslen r-tq. Wasl1.,v and buckets 20 are preferably formed of vertically positioned curved strips or rods 22 connected together by longitudinal members 23 and provided with ends 24. Such a bucket permits the article to slide rather than fall in the bucket as said bucket rotates, and prevents bruising the surface of the article. Said sliding action is particularly I desirable when dealingwith fruits or vegetables which are easily bruised or crushed.

A plurality of sheaves 25 are placed in staggered relation to engage conveyer belt 2I and to provide maximum utilization of the space within the gas chamber.

Driving wheel 3I for; operating said conveyer belt 2I is connected to a, source of power as electric motor 21, at a reduced speed preferably thru chain. means 32, 33 and and sprocket means 26 and 28 and reduction gears, (not shown) disposed within housing 29.

Driving wheel 3I is secured to shaft 34 and thereby to sprocket 35, engaging conveyer ZI. Thus conveyer 2| and drum I4 are synchronized so the pocket 20 will register with the pockets I6. A

discharge opening 36 provided with a chute 3'! is placed in casing I I. Said chute 31 may beproe vided with a flap or outwardly swinging door 38. Such 'a flap door is used to prevent escape of gases as the potatoes are delivered from my device. Obviously, the timing-feeding means used for entrance of potatoes is likewise ap'plicable for the delivery. I

A manhole covered by plate 39, which maybe operated by lever means 40, is provided in the casing II to enable inspection of the interior of the device. fumes is provided, said sulphur fumes being dioxide which may be purchased on the market compressed in cylinders, for the reason that sulphur fumes appearto have a greatly superior result. A heating plate 42, connected to a source of heating as an electric plate, (not shown), is provided beneath the generator for burning sill phur in the generator.

In the operation of my device, I introduce articles such as potatoes, which may be freshly skinned bythe process described in my co-pend ing application Serial No. 562,907, into timirig Agenerator M for producing sulphur formed from burning sulphur instead of sulphur feeding drum I4. The capacity of the individual 7 pockets I6 in said timing-feeding drum I4 isapproximately the same as the capacity oflthe individual buckets 20. rotates, pockets I6 are successively disposed above discharging hole I3 where potatoes will fall by gravity into buckets 26 on conveyer belt 2 I. Said conveyer belt passes over sheaves 25 the staggered As timing-feeding drum I4 I a air for burning sulphur in theg'enerator. ;It will be understood that the speed at whichthe buckets travel depends upon the size of the device. the

length of time of exposure to the sulphur fumes desired and to the concentration 01- the sulphur fumes inthe air. For potatoes freshly; by the process described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 562,90'71 have found the. length" of time 20 minutes, provided that the'sulphur fumes are derived from one fourth ounce to one half ounc of sulphur burned per cubi'cyard 'of f Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

Iclgim; J1

In a devi'cebf the character describe'd,.,a plurality ofsheaves; abucket mounting 'conveyer means mounted on said sheaves; and buckets rigidly operatively mounted on said conveyer means,

each of-saicl buckets c omprising sides of substan atiallysemi-circular shape in transverse section with a restricted opening and said'sides formed I 01a pluralityof rods disposed in spaced relation desirable for a bucket to make acomplete trip is andin parallel planes disposed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bucket.

- FNEWMAN T. BROWN. 

